Mikkeller Single Hop Cascade IPA

Mikkeller
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Copenhagen V, Denmark

Bottle. Always look forward to the single hop series. Deep orange color, slightly hazy, big foamy head on initial pour. Flavor is caramel malts that are mildly sweet followed by the Cascade hop wallop, which is pine like, very mild citrus, and an astringent finish. Well balanced and easy drinking.

11.2oz bottle via secret santa trade. pours a murky, reddish-copper with a creamy white head and solid lacing. aroma is is very nice with definite tropical fruit notes of melon, pineapple, and papaya with citrus notes of orange, pink grapefruit, and apricot and hints of soap, spicy pine and earth. flavor is quite tasty as well with a big, tart, citrusy hit of grapefruit and orange initially with unique herbal and piney hop notes coming through late with hints of vanilla, yeast, and crystal malts leading into a quite bitter, herbal, citrusy finish. palate is medium bodied with bright carbonation although it is a bit creamy on the tongue. overall, a unique and solid ipa.

Hazy golden pour with a thick, sticky, white head. The nose is very fruity and tropical. Lots of fresh grapefruit as well as a touch of light apricot/peach. There is a soft sweet maltiness with a little bit of spicy yeastiness as well. Grapefruit and a bit of light citrus. There is a touch of bitterness on the back of the palate. There is something distinctly fruity about all of these Mikkeller Single Hop beers that I can only assume comes from an atypical yeast strain of some sort. It’s quite yeasty but it’s probably my least favourite to date.

11.2oz bottle. Pours a cloudy, deeper orange-copper colored body with an inch thick, tight, creamy, beige head that dissipates slowly and leaves a good amount of sticky lacing. Aroma is a light tropical fruit, citrus, melon mixture with a mild caramel, light crystal sweetness. Fresh and clean with some light florals and grass. Flavor is very balanced with a light to moderate, leafy bitterness. Straightforward, mild caramel malt keeps the citrus, tropical fruitiness in check. Mixture of earth, herbs, and florals with a light pine. Somewhat grainy and resiny with a bit of a brighter lemon and some biscuit. Finishes with a firm bitterness and a moderate aftertaste. Light to medium body, smooth, and dry. Overall, a nice showcase of the cascade hop. The timid caramels leave lots of room for the brighter, clean, leafy/herbal/earthy/piney/floral hoppiness. I think this single hop beer stands as an example of how dynamic the cascade hop can be; especially when paired with others. It seems to go best when complementing or being complemented by other hops. Despite my opinion on the hop in general, this was a solid beer.

Bottle shared with tashi at my "All my US bottles from GBBF need drinking" tasting, 16th Aug 09. This bottle came from the Cracked Kettle in Amsterdam though. Amber with a lacy white head. Distinctive cascade flavours - dusty, earthy almond dryness and good balance. Nice weight (surprisingly light) and not too strong/evident alcohol. Piney hop aroma and a long finish with resin at the top of the mouth and lasting dryness at the bottom.

Very nice and bitter IPA. Wonderful floral / citric nose. Taste is a bit thin, but still very satisfying. I had been looking forward to trying one of Mikkeller’s "american" styled beers. Not disappointing whatsoever.

33cl, Danish brewery, from Slijterij van Bergen Eindhoven, complex brew, yet easy to drink, balanced, hazy, rocky head, good brew

Hazy orange pour with a mountainous interestingly shaped topographic head that leaves a thick coat of lacing. Aroma is bursting with sweet citrus and nectar fruits with a strong backbone of straw, grass, and pine. Malt profile is medium with notes of caramel and biscuit. Flavor is resinous and sappy- almost bracingly so. Huge notes of citrus and evergreen with an excellent balance of sweet caramel malt. Palate is suitably dry and resinous with a full mouthfeel and lively effervescence. Delicious and well crafted.